AJU PRESS - ASIA NEWS HUB

Journalist

Kim Hee-su, Han Jun-gu khs@ajupress.com

Kim Jong-un inspects institute for new solid-fuel ICBM engine SEOUL, September 2 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a missile research institute on Monday, right before his departure for Beijing to attend a military parade in China. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim inspected "the relevant institute of the General Academy of Chemical Materials under the Missile Administration of the DPRK" on September 1 and met composite carbon fiber material researchers. KCNA said the institute produced a "high-thrust solid-fuel engine with the composite carbon fiber material and verified the credibility of the operation of the engine and its accuracy through eight static firing tests in the past two years." Pyongyang said that the "new-type solid-fuel engine" will be used in "the next-generation ICBM Hwasongpho-20" as well as in the "ICBM Hwasongpho-19." North Korea's latest test was conducted on October 31 last year with the Hwasong-19. The missile is believed to be capable of striking the entire U.S. mainland with a range exceeding 15,000 kilometers, and Russia may have provided Pyongyang with technical assistance in developing such engines. Kim's visit to the institute reportedly took place shortly before his multilateral diplomatic debut at the parade, seen as an effort to underscore North Korea's status as a self-proclaimed "nuclear weapons state" with missiles capable of targeting the U.S. 2025-09-02 13:53:43
Labor minister vows to reduce industrial accident rate to OECD average by 2030 SEOUL, September 1 (AJP) - South Korea's Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon pledged on Monday to reduce the number of fatal accidents at workplaces, including factories, to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average by 2030. Speaking at a press conference at the government complex in the central city of Sejong, Kim said the ministry will try to reduce the industrial fatality rate from 0.39 deaths per 10,000 workers last year to the OECD's average of 0.29 within five years. The remark came less than two months after President Lee Jae Myung said during a Cabinet meeting in July that the government must root out industrial accidents following the fifth death this year at a construction site operated by POSCO E&C Co., a subsidiary of steelmaker POSCO. Kim said the accidents disproportionately affect older employees, foreign workers, and delivery riders. He stressed that the government is preparing targeted measures for these groups, along with specialized programs for small businesses. The minister also said the government will impose penalties immediately upon finding violations, without prior correction orders, starting next month. The ministry also plans to expand inspections by operating a public reporting center and offering financial rewards beginning next year. According to data released by the Ministry of Employment and Labor last month, 138 workers died in construction-related accidents in the first half of this year, up eight from a year earlier. Fatalities at small workplaces increased to 176, up by 21 from a year earlier (13.5 percent), while those at large sites with more than 50 workers fell to 111, down by 30 (21.3 percent). Foreign workers accounted for 38 deaths, or 13.2 percent of the total, continuing to make up more than 10 percent of annual fatalities. Despite the Serious Accident Punishment Act being enforced since 2022, workplace fatalities have remained largely unchanged. Annual deaths have hovered above 2,000, with 2,062 in 2020, 2,080 in 2021, 2,223 in 2022, 2,016 in 2023, and 2,098 last year. A National Assembly research report released at the end of last month said that of 1,252 cases investigated under the law, 917 cases, or 73.2 percent, remain under investigation by prosecutors. More than half of the probes have taken longer than six months, compared to 10 to 15 percent for other crimes. The acquittal rate has reached 10.7 percent, over three times higher than that of other criminal cases, reflecting the difficulty of proving that employers deliberately or negligently failed to comply with safety measures and that the accidents could have been reasonably foreseen. 2025-09-01 16:59:46
[[K-Pop]] Stray Kids break record, topping Billboard 200 for seventh time SEOUL, September 1 (AJP) - K-pop boy band Stray Kids have claimed their seventh No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart with their latest full-length album. According to Billboard's preview on Sunday, the group's latest album "Karma" debuted atop the chart, surpassing the soundtrack album of Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters." "All seven of the group's Billboard 200 chart entries have debuted at No. 1, beginning with 'Oddinary' in 2022," it said. Since first topping the chart with "Oddinary" in 2022, the group has achieved consecutive No. 1 debuts with "Maxident," "ATE," "Hop," and three more albums, becoming the K-pop group with the most No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. The record surpasses K-pop juggernaut BTS, which notched six No. 1s on the chart. Their latest album, released on Aug. 22, contains 11 tracks, including the title song "Ceremony," which reflects the group’s growth through overcoming various conflicts. Debuting in March 2018 through a reality show of the same name, the group produces much of its own music through a unit 3RACHA, composed of members Bang-chan, Chang-bin, and Han. With their hip-hop–based sound, the eight members have built a distinctive style through powerful performances. Critics praised the group's artistry. Music critic Lim Hee-yoon said their success came from "sticking to their own color rather than relying on foreign producers or features," while Jeong Min-jae said that "their participation in songwriting has shaped their individuality, though the group still lacks a hit in South Korea." 2025-09-01 13:12:47
South Korean-American singer Yoo Seung-jun wins again over visa denial SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - A Seoul court has once again ruled in favor of South Korean-American singer Yoo Seung-jun, ordering the cancellation of the government's decision to deny him a visa to enter the country. The Seoul Administrative Court on Thursday sided with the 48-year-old singer, also known by his U.S. name Steve Seung-jun Yoo, in his third lawsuit against the South Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles, which had repeatedly rejected his visa applications. Yoo, once a popular singer in South Korea, was banned from entering the country in 2002 after he obtained U.S. citizenship to avoid mandatory military service, just three months after pledging to enlist. He applied for an F-4 overseas Korean visa at the LA consulate in 2015, citing a law allowing those over 38 years old who had renounced South Korean nationality to be eligible. However, the consulate repeatedly denied his requests despite multiple Supreme Court rulings in his favor in 2020 and 2023, citing concerns that his entry could harm national interests. In this third ruling, the consulate argued that granting Yoo a visa could undermine public order, but the court rejected the claim, saying the grounds were insufficient. The court added that the ruling does not mean Yoo's past actions were appropriate, dismissing a separate case he filed against the Ministry of Justice seeking to nullify the ministry's 2002 entry ban. Still, his return to South Korea remains uncertain as the ban remains valid. The consulate may continue to deny his visa unless the ministry lifts the ban. 2025-08-29 16:54:01
US Senator emphasizes balance between nuclear deterrence and USFK flexibility SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) -A United States senator said Thursday that Washington can uphold its nuclear deterrence commitment to South Korea while keeping U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) flexible enough to respond to wider challenges in the Indo-Pacific. Senator Andy Kim, a Democrat representing New Jersey, made the comments at a Capitol press conference as the U.S. considers expanding the operational scope of the 28,500 USFK troops under the concept of "strategic flexibility." The idea not only covers deterring North Korea but also countering China and handling other regional contingencies. "We can guarantee extended deterrence while having strategic flexibility," Kim said. "That means we can support the defense of the Korean Peninsula and still have the ability to respond to contingencies across the Indo-Pacific." His remarks came a day after President Lee Jae Myung told reporters that Seoul was reluctant to accept Washington's push for more flexibility in USFK operations ahead of his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Kim suggested, however, that flexibility is unavoidable given the shifting regional balance, describing the Indo-Pacific as a "very dynamic and potentially dangerous" environment. The senator also underlined that the current force level should remain intact. "I do not believe we should change the force level unless there is a mutual agreement between the two allies. The U.S. must not unilaterally cut troops as happened in past administrations," he said. Kim added that any unilateral moves by Washington would damage the alliance. "If the U.S. were to take unilateral actions without consultation with Seoul, it would send the wrong message to other countries about the status of the U.S.-South Korea alliance," he said. 2025-08-29 14:13:07
Skin clinics top choice for foreign medical tourists in South Korea SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - More than half of foreign patients who visited South Korea last year visited skin clinics, medical statistics reveal. According to a report by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) released on Thursday, of the 1.17 million foreigners who received medical treatments here last year, some 705,044 visited skin-related clinics, accounting for 56.6 percent, a whopping 117-fold increase from a mere 6,015 in 2009. The next most frequent treatment was cosmetic surgery at 11.4 percent, followed by internal medicine (10 percent) and health check-ups (4.5 percent). By nationality, the majority of foreign patients were Japanese (37.7 percent) and Chinese (22.3 percent), together accounting for about 60 percent. They were followed by Americans (8.7 percent), Taiwanese (7.1 percent), and Thais (3.3 percent). Meanwhile, medical tourism continues to grow, with foreign patient numbers surpassing 1 million for the first time last year. Out of some 7 million foreign visitors here during the first five months of this year, nearly 6 million or about 80 percent shopped at cosmetics retailer Olive Young, according to a straw poll last month amid the soaring popularity of South Korean beauty products overseas. 2025-08-28 16:10:41
[[K-Pop]] BTS' 'Fake Love' racks up over 1 billion streams on Spotify SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - Another song by K-pop juggernaut BTS has surpassed 1 billion streams on the world's largest streaming site Spotify, according to their management agency BigHit Music this week. "Fake Love" from their third full-length album "Love Yourself: Tear" reached the milestone last Sunday since its release in May 2018, becoming the septet's fifth song to do so after "Dynamite," "My Universe," "Butter," and "Boy With Luv." The song, which conveys the heartbreak of realizing that a love once thought to be fate was actually a lie, peaked at No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 just two weeks after its release. Meanwhile, BTS member Jungkook's "3D," featuring American rapper Jack Harlow, recently surpassed 1 billion streams, joining his earlier hits like "Left and Right," "Seven," and "Standing Next to You." He now has the most billion-stream songs of any K-pop solo artist on Spotify. 2025-08-27 16:32:25
[[K-Pop]] Soundtrack from K-pop anime tops Billboard Hot 100 again A scene from "KPop Demon Hunters." Courtesy of Netflix SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - One of the main theme songs from Netflix's hit South Korean anime has returned to the top spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. According to Billboard on Monday, "Golden" from the soundtrack of "KPop Demon Hunters" reclaimed the top spot on the U.S. singles chart this week, after slipping to second place behind American singer Alex Warren's "Ordinary" last week. The song, performed by South Korean-American singer-songwriter Ejae together with American singers Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, is one of the smash hits featured on the soundtrack of the anime, which is about a story of fictional K-pop superstars having "secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats." Billboard hailed the album's success, saying it "becomes the first soundtrack to generate four simultaneous top 10s over the chart's 67-year archives." Three other songs from the soundtrack such as "How It's Done," "Soda Pop" and "Your Idol" were also included in the top 10 of the chart. 2025-08-26 15:16:39
[[K-Pop]] Multinational units of K-pop girl group BlingOne meet fans in Seoul SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - K-pop girl group BlingOne, which has no South Korean members at all, held a fan event in Seoul on Monday as its Chinese and Peruvian unit members came together. Formed through the World K-Pop Center's global audition project "Click the Star," which aims to discover and nurture aspiring K-pop stars from 32 countries across the world, BlingOne began their journey with three Peruvian members in June last year and six Chinese members in February this year, while their Indonesia and South Korea units are expected to debut soon. The Chinese unit has since undergone some changes in its member lineup. "The group's name means 'to bling the world as one,'" said Yu Dong-ming of the center. "This is especially meaningful as it marks the first time since their debut that the Peruvian and Chinese members have come together." In his opening remarks at the event, Peruvian Ambassador to South Korea Paul Duclos welcomed the multinational group's members, expressing his expectation for their "excellent performance" here. Highlighting K-pop's power to connect different countries, he added, "Their talent, abilities, and passion for music also serve as a symbol of friendship and unity." The girls also expressed their excitement. "I've always missed my fans, and I'm overwhelmed to be here in such a special place," said Chinese member Chloe. Reflecting on the days she dreamed of making her debut, Peruvian member Mia said, "Being able to meet fans and connect with them at this up-close and personal event is truly a great gift." Cristina, 23, a Peruvian fan who attended the event with her sister, said, "I married a South Korean man and currently live here, but I became a fan of BlingOne after seeing their performance in Peru while visiting my family." Meanwhile, BlingOne will perform at a music festival this weekend in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, along with various singers and performers including Ailee, Chungha, Rain, Triple S, and Xiumin of EXO. 2025-08-26 10:09:39
Modern take on Joseon royal ritual staged in Seoul SEOUL, August 22 (AJP) - When the lights go down, more than 40 dancers move in unison across a massive stage. As they perform, audiences are immersed in "One Dance" ("Ilmu" in Korean), the ceremonial dance of the royal ancestral ritual at Jongmyo Shrine, accompanied by music dating back to the Joseon Dynasty. With minimal stage props, the stage is filled only by the flowing sleeves of dancers dressed in white, orange, green, and blue hanbok, traditional South Korean attire. Their movements scatter outward and then return to order, creating a rhythm of harmony. A media showcase event by the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater opened Thursday at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, where it will run for four days through Sunday. The show offers a modern reinterpretation of "Ilmu," part of Jongmyo Jeryeak, which has been designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage by both the South Korean government and UNESCO. Now in its fourth year, this year's production features upgraded lighting and visual design, along with new dancers. The show has garnered international acclaim, with sold-out performances in New York in 2023 following its 2022 premiere, and has since been staged annually in Seoul. Director Jung Ku-ho explained the stage structure, saying, "In the traditional Jongmyo Jeryeak, 64 dancers form lines in the square courtyard of the shrine. We tried to reconstruct that framework in a modern way on stage, simple but powerful." He added that he used "two open rectangular frames" to create "shifting architectural forms that float and come together, making a square, seen from different angles above and below." Choreographer Jung Hye-jin said, "'Ilmu' is not only the dance of the Jongmyo ritual but also a dance of alignment. The show was inspired by the idea of dancers moving in line and incorporates elements of South Korean folk dance expressed in a contemporary style across four acts. The final act, 'Shin Ilmu' ('New Ilmu'), is a newly created choreography." She continued, "If the traditional 'Ilmu' is a static dance with energy directed inward, the contemporary version seeks to release that energy outward with stronger expression. Tradition and modernity merge to reveal a new movement in the finale." Choreographer Kim Sung-hoon elaborated on the costumes, saying, "The dancers wear blue tops, red pants, and a white centerpiece to symbolize the Taegukgi (the South Korean national flag). Some formations even visualize the flag's design in motion." "Every breath has to be synchronized. Every dancer devoted countless hours to perfecting even the smallest gestures, demanding both intense focus and mental strength," said Choi Tae-hun, principal dancer of the theater. Following its Seoul run, the show will be staged in Gangneung, Gangwon Province next Friday and in Daegu Metropolitan City from Sept. 4 to 5. 2025-08-22 16:50:28